Her Drive Is Behind Wheel Of Success

Barbara Guinn, president Acura of Bellevue

Accomplishment: In the six years since starting Acura of Bellevue, Barbara Nelson Guinn has built the business into one she expects will reach $30 million in revenue this year.

The Eastside's only Acura dealership, it broke even its first year of business, 1986, when Honda introduced its new Acura luxury car line. Last year, revenue was between $25 million and $30 million. "Building this business from scratch with a new product and in a new location - with the success we have had - is a great accomplishment," says Guinn.

She did, however, have a little help. Guinn, 50, is the granddaughter of Stanley Nelson, founder of the successful Nelson Chevrolet in Ballard and patron of a family of entrepreneurs that now includes the owners of six Puget Sound-area dealerships selling 14 different types of cars. Although Guinn kicked in most of the money to start Acura of Bellevue (and, this February, to make arrangements to buy Acura of Spokane), her family assisted, both financially and emotionally.

Guinn, who lives in the wealthy Broadmoor section of Seattle, says she doesn't "take very much salary" out of her business. But she acknowledges her job "provides a good lifestyle," and adds: "I do get to drive a nice car" - an $80,000 Acura NSX sports model. "It's one of the fringe benefits. Of course, it is owned by the company," Guinn says.

Secret: "I work very hard, I'm very determined and I have a lot of family support. Whenever there's a problem, I have a lot of knowledge to draw from," she says. Of the three brothers and sisters in the family, two own car dealerships. So do two spouses. Nelson's current husband, who she met three years ago at an auto auction in California, co-owns and manages her latest venture, Acura of Spokane; her sister and brother-in-law own car dealerships across the street from each other in Mount Vernon.

Setback: A failed marriage that led her into the car business. After having two children by her former husband, Guinn divorced him in 1980. "I was a mother, a wife and a homemaker," she says. At 40, she started her career as an office manager at the family's Lynnwood Honda outlet, where she worked her way up to general manager. "I knew the family would hire me somewhere. But in this family, you have to make it on your own," she says.

Advice: "Decide what your goal is. Then, just keep it in mind, and you'll make it. Don't get sidetracked and don't let the little stuff bother you."

Reported by Times East bureau business reporter Scott Williams. Send your nominations for this feature to the Times. We need your name, the name of your nominee, along with their company and phone number and a brief description of how or why they are successful.